I have known her since my early years of covering Noblesville, from the days when she organized Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission's Summer Band Concerts in Seminary Park to the many musical programs she led at Noblesville First United Methodist Church.

She also organized the music for the Noblesville Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Hamilton County Government & Judicial Center.Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Being one of the many guests at Thursday's Noblesville Chamber of Commerce luncheon, I was fortunate to be invited to Riverview Health's behind-the-scenes hospital tour.

Seth Warren, Riverview's CEO, was guest speaker at the luncheon with a crowd that filled the old barn-turned-catering hall at Mustard Seed Gardens in Noblesville.

Guests devoured a lunch catered by Matteo's Ristorante Italiano on the Square, then listened intently as Warren delivered the annual Riverview State of Health in Hamilton County.Saturday, August 12, 2017

While Noblesville Deputy Mayor Steve Cooke has received a lot of grief about his controversial idea to build homes at Seminary Park and to turn our Nickel Plate Rail line into trails, I still follow him on Twitter.

That's because his Tweets are usually about promoting Noblesville.

Thursday, his Tweets encouraged folks to come out and donate blood during the Indiana Blood Center drive at the Wastewater Department on Washington Street in Noblesville's Southwest Quadrant neighborhood.Friday, August 11, 2017

Young Noblesville actor and singer Maddux Morrison kept track of the time, because he was worried that he wouldn't make it to his final performance when the curtain opened.

He had just competed in the Junior Division of the Indiana State Fair Vocal Solo Male contest on Sunday. Although he was first to go on stage in the competition, when he went to sing, there were microphone issues. This delayed the start, but he handled it well.Thursday, August 10, 2017

Hometown fans will be thrilled to know that Nashville country music recording artist John Riggins will return this weekend to Hamilton County,

Headliner of Peterson Farmfest in Cicero, the former Carmel firefighter has performed at the festival every year since its beginning five years ago. The fundraiser brings in money for Reins of Grace Therapeutic Riding Center in Sheridan, where a dozen special-needs students, ages 2-8, ride horses weekly as therapy.Wednesday, August 9, 2017

When Noblesville's Norma Floyd is asked to be a costumer for a show at The Belfry Theatre, she goes to work figuring out exactly what the director has in mind.

Doing the costumes doesn't mean she makes every one of them. Sometimes, she scrounges for costume pieces, and sometimes actors find their own costumes. But it's her job to make sure that every cast member in the show has a costume for his or her character.(1 comments)Monday, August 7, 2017

The Indiana State Fair opens today with a new ride that will allow visitors to see the sights from high above the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to board the new Suburu Skyride on Thursday during State Fair Media Day.

It was a sweet, smooth ride that takes visitors from the former State Fair Gift Shop location near the Midway entrance and travels high above the crowd over Main Street, and behind the Hoosier Lottery Grand Stand and east to the Swine Barn and Kiddie Land Midway, near the Binford Avenue entrance of the State Fairgrounds.

The 90-chair aerial lift is just like a ski lift and has a safety bar for passengers, and it travels 35 feet above the ground over the span of 1,400 feet.Friday, August 4, 2017

Every year at this time, I'm sad to see the Hamilton County 4-H Fair come to a close. We've enjoyed five days of food, fun and 4-H projects.

On Thursday, opening day of the Fair, my daughter, in addition to her Blue and Honor ribbons for the 4-H Photography project, she also earned a blue ribbon for her 4-H Health project. It was a poster about first aid for burns.Wednesday, July 26, 2017

I remember years ago, when I worked at The Noblesville Ledger newspaper, and all of us reporters would meet for lunch at the Hamilton County Extension Homemakers Food Stand during the 4-H Fair.

It was in mid- to late 1980s, and the Food Stand was a little building at the Fairgrounds. The dining room was a big screened-in porch with picnic tables, and the kitchen was at the back and wasn't air conditioned. That original and first Food Stand was dedicated on April 25, 1971.Saturday, July 22, 2017

It was the first year that I came to The Noblesville Times. And I was told that the newspaper would be renting a booth in the Commercial Tent at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair.

As a booth holder, we got an assigned space in the tent. We brought our own table, chairs, box fan, plus subscription sign-up sheets and daily copies of The Times. And a bowl of candy to entice fairgoers.Thursday, July 20, 2017

If you've driven by the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville this week, you've probably noticed that the big tents are set up, barns are open and the parking lot is bustling with 4-H'ers checking in their 4-H Fair projects.

We love the Fair and look forward to it every year. Maybe it's the smell of the horses and cows and pigs that fill the barns. Or the thousands of 4-H'ers projects that are judged and on display to the publicWednesday, July 19, 2017

Noblesville's Phyllis Davis won't ever divulge her age. But she will tell you that she's been playing the piano since she was 3 years old.

And that she has been playing for the Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen Contest for at least 50 consecutive years.

The Times newspaper archives has her playing at the contest since 1968, a year that I believe she told me one time when I was interviewing her. In fact, she was honored in 2014 for 46 years at a celebration that included presentation of a wristwatch.Monday, July 17, 2017

For years, Bobby Mills would be out at his Field of Dreams, everyday, especially during the baseball season.

"It was his therapy," said Michey Mills of her late husband, who created a baseball complex of eight fully equipped diamonds that opened in 1999 next to Hazel Dell Elementary on school property on Indiana 32 in Noblesville.Saturday, July 15, 2017

It's been an amazing year for Sheridan's Rachel Adams, who was crowned the 2016 Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen a year ago.

She joined the pageant competition, following in her sister, Courtney's footsteps, and to gain a "learning" experience.

"I had no idea I had what it took to be Miss Hamilton County, and I think that's why I appreciate it so much. It's a legacy....," said Rachel, whose photo joined pictures of past 4-H Fair queens that line the hallway of the Exhibition Center at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville.Friday, July 14, 2017

You might know Janet Gilray as Miss Melody, a schoolmarm from Possum Holler who plays her old Martin heirloom guitar and sings "Antique Stories in Song" for kids on the second Saturday morning of the month at Old Picket Fence in downtown Noblesville.

Or maybe you've seen Miss Melody teaching school and singing songs in the little one-room schoolhouse in the Pioneer Village at the Indiana State Fair.Thursday, July 13, 2017

I want to begin by thanking Noblesville Schools and Noblesville Township for partnering to offer free recreational summer day camps again this year.

It's the first year that we've gotten to take advantage of the camps, and we loved them.

Usually, I don't find out about the camps until the offerings are already full, but this year when Facebook friend and fellow mom Tiff Whitaker in March gave us a heads-up that the camps were posted on an eventbrite.com link on the school district's website, I quickly maneuvered my way there.Wednesday, July 12, 2017

While I don't display a "Save the Train" sign in my front yard, my hope is that we can save the train, that is, our Nickel Plate Road railroad track.

I love to hear the whistle blow as it travels through downtown Noblesville. The train travels down the middle of Eighth Street, from Logan to Division streets. We're one of only five Indiana cities and towns where the train still travels right down the middle of the street, forcing drivers to share the road.(1 comments)Monday, July 10, 2017

It's already July 8, which means the Hamilton County 4-H Fair is right around the corner.

I know that because my 11-year-old daughter is scrambling today to finish up one of her projects, with the help of her Aunt Debbie.

This is our fifth year involved in the county's 4-H program. We spent two years in Mini 4-H, where we took Horse & Pony, Clogging, Collections and other projects. Then when my daughter was old enough, she joined the regular 4-H program.Saturday, July 8, 2017

On July 4, Jim Wafford was the guy behind the camera filming the stage entertainment at Noblesville Fireworks Festival and driving his company vehicle in the Noblesville Fourth of July Parade.

He is the guy who plays the free Classic Movies on Friday nights at Forest Park. And the guy who annually live streams the Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen contest and does live coverage throughout the 4-H Fair.(1 comments)Thursday, July 6, 2017

Judy Poe from Old Town Noblesville wished a Happy 4th to her neighbors. Old Town resident Corinne Piazza invited neighbors to partake in hot dogs, popcorn and water while watching the Fourth of July parade from her house on Wayne Street.Wednesday, July 5, 2017

I always look forward to the Fourth of July holiday here in Noblesville.

I especially love the parade. I've sat alongside the parade route snapping photos probably only half as many times as I have been in the parade.

Years ago, we used to literally throw handfuls of candy to people along the parade route. Since then, the City banned parade entrants from throwing candy to parade viewers, due to safety concerns, but still allow entrants to hand out candy along the parade route.Monday, July 3, 2017

While we have found so much to do already this summer, there are so many more things to experience.

During a recent visit to Koteewi Range in Noblesville, I met up during the Visit Indiana Rally for archery with 2004 Olympian Stephanie Amick of Fishers, a 1996 Hamilton Southeastern High School grad, who was offering archery pointers to Midwest Living editor Trevor Meers.Thursday, June 29, 2017

It was Anita Landress' first time making cotton candy. She laughed at herself as she fought the wind making the sweet treat, which ended up more on her than on the cotton candy stick.

"You're the entertainment," I heard more than one parent say as families watched Landress make cotton candy on Sunday during Noblesville Preservation Alliance's annual Summer Picnic at Seminary Park.Wednesday, June 28, 2017

After Vacation Bible School on Friday, I was getting ready to order lunch with my daughter and her friend, Chloe Zerr, at Noblesville Jim Dandy, when I saw the Wet Tenderloin on the menu. My former Noblesville Ledger editor Don Jellison loved the dish, so I thought I would give it a try while the girls took advantage of the lunch buffet.Monday, June 26, 2017

I remember how much fun it was to attend Vacation Bible School when I was a kid.

When my daughter was old enough, I signed her up for VBS at the Noblesville First United Methodist Church. The kids praised God in song, did crafts and played hand bells. They wore a color of the day, devoured tasty snacks prepared by volunteers, and prayed alongside other kids.Saturday, June 24, 2017

Thanks to the late Bobby Mills, about 1,300 boys and girls, ages 3-12, annually play baseball on turf fields with scoreboards, lights, bleachers and dugouts. There are two towers, a concession stand, pavilion, restrooms, pitching practice area, batting cages and portable pitching mounds.Thursday, June 22, 2017

Saturday was the first time I'd visited the Noblesville Farmers Market this season.

It wasn't that I haven't wanted to go. We've been busy.

This past Saturday, I decided it was time to go to the market. We left early enough to find a parking space in the park's Green Room lot at the former bank, which still conveniently has a automated teller machine.Monday, June 19, 2017

Nearly 30 years ago, Noblesville's Dave Shank bought a 1954 Chrysler, just for a hobby.

He drove the car in the Fourth of July Parade and the Noblesville Christmas Parade. Realizing that there were a lot more car enthusiasts out there besides him, he struck a deal with the festivals' organizer that if she would give him names and numbers of old-car owners, then he would organize all antique-car events.Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Today is the first day of rehearsals for The Belfry Theatre's summer kids production.

I know this because my daughter auditioned a week ago for Disney's "The Little Mermaid." The theater's Apprentice Players' production will present a total of eight performances the last weekend in July and the first weekend in August.Monday, June 12, 2017

I haven't really celebrated my birthday since I hit a certain milestone. But I will let you do the math.

When my birthday rolls around every June 10, it's always strawberry-picking time. This year, the strawberries, the first fruit of the picking season, arrived three weeks ago, due to an early spring.Saturday, June 10, 2017

Steven Osborne pointed to a blue-striped cotton dress worn by his maternal grandmother, a dark print wedding dress worn by his paternal grandmother and a blue and white quilt that she started 70 years ago. He also showed a rocking chair and a top hat that belonged to this paternal grandfather. And vintage photos of his Osborne ancestors, a family Bible and an old shutter taken from the house of a family farm.Friday, June 9, 2017

When we drive into the Noblesville Airport this Saturday for the annual June pancake breakfast fly-in, by habit, we'll automatically be looking for Don Roberts sitting on his favorite bench, acting as an official greeter.

He always flirted with all of the girls in his sweet harmless way. Especially the little girls, like my 11-year-old And sometimes, he would wear a red clown nose and make everybody laugh.Thursday, June 8, 2017

This year's Darlington Bed Race brought out more creativity than I've ever seen before.

Noblesville Preservation Alliance, which had maids and butlers pushing a Victorian lady on a canopy bed, wasn't the fastest in the race. But the entry, which competed at a leisurely pace, was the most popular among the audience crowded along Ninth Street.Monday, June 5, 2017

While it's still another 20 days until summer officially arrives on the calendar, this weekend really feels like the beginning of summer here in Noblesville.

Besides today being the last day of school and the kickoff of the Summer Reading Program at Hamilton East Public Library, a big tent goes up today on the Courthouse Square as Noblesville Lions are setting up tables and chairs for the Club's annual Pork Chop Dinner on Friday.Thursday, June 1, 2017

That's why I always try to attend the annual Hamilton County Commissioners' Youth Service Award ceremony when organizer George Kristo invites me.

The scholarship contest attracts some of the county's most impressive and praiseworthy seniors, each representing his or her school district, with the focus on recognizing outstanding service by drug-free youth.Thursday, May 25, 2017

We also celebrated her birthday on Sunday at Noblesville's Forest Park. And with her friends 11 days ago at the Hamilton County Sports Complex's A Plus Gymnastics Center in Noblesville.Wednesday, May 24, 2017

We also celebrated her birthday on Sunday at Noblesville's Forest Park. And with her friends 11 days ago at the Hamilton County Sports Complex's A Plus Gymnastics Center in Noblesville.Wednesday, May 24, 2017